Do Something

Happy Saturday! Today is "projects at our house" day. At the beginning of the year, I set a schedule in place to work at Mom's one Saturday, Robert's one Saturday, our house one Saturday and then have a fun day one Saturday. I am so excited about the work that is getting done! Before I go to bed tonight, the mess that my garage turned into over the winter months is going to be cleaned! Andrew and I added a bit to my stairwell project last night, I have two more pieces for it coming this week, Andrew needs to put the new light switch in, and then it will be the way I want it. I am loving what I have so far.

So, this week was one of those weeks that something was heavily debated on facebook and it brought me back to the book of James. I know I have given a devotional like this before but I think outside of the gospel message itself, that you will have eternal life if you accept that Christ died for you and rose again, conquered death and went to Heaven to prepare a place for us; this is probably the most important thing we need to know. 

So, today, we venture back to my favorite book of the Bible, to James 4:17

Therefore to him that knows to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Highlight= the entire verse. Explain= The book of James focuses heavily on faith in action. James reminds believers that knowing the right thing is not enough, faith must show up in how we live and how we treat others. In this verse, James makes something clear: When we recognize an opportunity to do good and simply choose not to act, we are missing what God is calling us to do. This isn’t about being perfect or fixing every problem in the world. It’s about responding when God clearly places something within our reach. Sometimes obedience looks like something simple: helping, speaking up, giving, or stepping in where we see a gap. I am going to tell you about my mom, she is 86 and on a limited budget, she is to the point where she doesn't drive far by herself and taking someone else someplace isn't a good fit for her (though year before last when I broke my ankle, she drove me to the hospital). She is a prayer warrior, and I know God listens to her, prayer is important but I have watched her send card after card to people when they are sick, I have watched a little bit of cash being slipped into a card if she feels someone might need it, and I have watched her donate to causes she feels are doing good work. She doesn't JUST pray, she DOES. This is the faith in action I am talking about. I know her funds are limited. She knows the Lord will provide and when He tells her to do something, she doesn't hesitate. Apply=It’s easy to say we care. We pray for people. We talk about problems. We shake our heads at the news. But sometimes God is showing us a place where we could actually do something. If you are yelling at the television about legislation but never write a letter or pick up the phone to call your representative, you’re missing an opportunity to act. If you see someone who needs a ride and you have a perfectly good car sitting in the driveway, maybe that moment is God nudging you to help. If you notice someone struggling and think, “Someone should really help them,” maybe that “someone” is supposed to be you. It’s easy to avoid involvement because it takes time, effort, and sometimes inconvenience. But often those moments where we see the need clearly are exactly where God is inviting us to step in. Sometimes the answer to our prayers for the world isn’t complicated. Sometimes it’s simply this: Do something.  I have had a concept on my mind this week, do you remember when the first big school shooting in Columbine Colorado happened? Do you remember the girl that was shot because she admitted she was a Christian. After that, we examined ourselves with this question. If  you were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? So, when we are saved, we should not consider it our "free ticket to Heaven" or as some call it, "fire insurance", we really are given a job to do, and as God changes our hearts, it should be something we want to do. Matthew 5:16 says "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." and of course, the Great Commission; Matthew 28:19-20. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." So, back to my concept. If you think of God as our "boss", are you really doing enough or should you be fired for slacking on the job? Disclaimer here, if you are truly saved, nobody can take that away from you, so there is no "getting fired from God" but that is simply because of His Grace, then another thing, we truly none of us deserved to be hired in the first place, again, that was His Grace. But I am sure you get the picture. How many people know you are a Christian because you tell them you went to church, or you say, "I will pray for you". And how many know you are a Christian because when you see an opportunity to be Jesus for someone, you do it? Respond= Lord, help me not only to see the needs around me but to respond when You place something within my ability to do. Give me courage to step in, compassion to act, and wisdom to recognize the opportunities You place in front of me. Let my faith be more than words, let it show in my actions. 

Sometimes God doesn't ask us to solve everything. Sometimes HE simply asks us to do the good that is already within our reach.

I am going to throw this out there as something a little extra today. I am challenging you to do a Random Act of Kindness today. Going through the drive-thru? When you get to the window, pay for the car behind you. Going someplace today? before you leave, grab a notecard and write a note that, "I was just driving by and really think your house is pretty, just wanted you to know" and then maybe saying, "Just wanted to spread a little Jesus today" and yes, there are also the "little Jesus" statues, I love when those show up. Someone on your mind? Maybe that means you should give them a call, or go see them, or at least send a card (I miss getting cards and letters in the mail!)  If you can think of something they might need, maybe you are the one to fill that need. It doesn't have to be much, and I know you get the picture. It could mean the world to them. 

Happy Saturday!